Public Observation - Baldhead Mountain, Flathead Range

Location Name: 
Public Observation - Baldhead Mountain, Flathead Range
Region: 
Flathead Range - Marias Pass/Skyland
Date and time of observation: 
Sat, 02/20/2016 - 10:00
Location Map: 

Red Flags: 
Recent loading by new snow, wind, or rain
Observation made by: Public
Snowpit Observations
More detailed information about the snowpack: 

Rode into Challenge Cabin Friday morning (2/19) and got up to the bowl above the cabin by noon.  Wind was moderate out of the SW and about 6-8" of fresh snow was on top of a rain crust, which likely formed the day before.  The face of the bowl had numerous cross loaded features, so we did not drop the bowl.  Dug a pit at 6,600' just below the ridge line facing NNE.  CT 12, 35cm deep just below the most recent rain crust.  CT 27, 70cm deep.  ECTN 13 (only width of shovel), 35cm deep.  Nothing propogated.  There was a very thick rain crust (10cm) about 100cm deep and we did not observe any faceted snow in the top 120 cm.  Sking was great.  Crust down low (below 6000') was supportable. 

On Saturday (2/20) woke up to another 4" at the cabin and made our way back to the ridge just to the west.  We decided to dig a pit very close to the one from the day before to compare a 24 hour change.  We measured about 12-14" fresh snow on top of the rain crust and it was snowing moderately.  This pit was in the same spot, 6,600' NNE aspect.  CT 21, 50cm deep (broke same layer as day before).  ECTN 17 on the storm snow and ECTN 24, 50cm deep.  Nothing propoated fully across the extended column.  This told us the snowpack had strengthened overnight, with the exception of new storm snow.  Skiing was exceptional and bottomless. We set off a few small sluff slides that were manageable and did not run far.  Stuck to treed slopes mostly 35 degrees or less. Snowed moderately all day, and by 4:00 PM, I measured roughly 16-18" storm snow total.

Today (2/21), we did not dig any pits. Skies cleared overnight and hoar frost formed on all aspects above 6,200'.  Winds were calm as our skin track at the ridge was undisturbed.  Again skiing was excellent.  As the day heated up, a couple very small natural sluffs started from tree bombs coming off branches.  We skied one SE slope in the morning, then stuck to North aspects for the rest of the day.  On southern aspects, the storm snow was gaining density by the end of the day. 

 

Activity: 
Skiing